Band saw wheel adjusting means



July 22, 1952 c. A. WIKEN EI'AL BAND SAW WHEEL ADJUSTING MEANS FiledDec. 1, 1947 8Sheets-Sheet l jNVENTOR. flhrllsfy A. Wiken BY Eric A.Reibig Attorneys July 22, 1952 c. A. WIKEN EI'AL BANb SAW WHEELADJUSTING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 1, 1947 {"l I/IIIIII/IIII[Ill-" I I.

gwvem/bo'n Chrisfy A.Wiken Eric A. Reibig July 22, 1952 c. A. WIKEN ETALBAND SAW WHEEL ADJUSTING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 1, 1947 3mmChrisfy A. Wiken Eric A.Reibig July 22, 1952 c. A. WIKEN EIAL BAND SAWWHEEL ADJUSTING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 1. 1947 INVENTOR.Christy A. Wiken y Eric A.Reibig Attorneys July 22, 1952 c. A. WIKENETAL BAND SAW WHEEL ADJUSTING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 1, 1947glvuq/wbo't Christy A. Wiken Eric A. Reibig July 22, 1952 c. A. WlKENETAL BAND SAW WHEEL ADJUSTING MEANS Filed Dec. 1, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 7A W 6 M m. .0 k a. I 3 .I. .l. b F 8 0 A R 2 W W w 2 r 5 W. C E i 2 (k/l n la l lnl h nl l q ll u FIILHHHU I IHH C. A WIKEN ETAL BAND SAW WHEELADJUSTING MEANS July 22, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 1, 1947Chrisfy A. Wiken Eric A. Reibig Patented July 22, 1 952 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE BAND SAW WHEEL ADJUSTING MEANS Christy A. Wiken,Pittsburgh, Pa., and Eric A. Reibig, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors toRockwell Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application December 1, 1947, Serial No. 789,002

4 Claims. (Cl. 143-31) steel cabinet structure having a hollow verticalcolumn and upper and lower compartment assemblies for the operatingparts of the machine rigidly welded to said column and extendinglaterally from one side thereof.

A more particular object of the invention resides in the provision of areinforcing unit internally welded to the rear wall of the uppercompartment assembly of the cabinet structure and extending into thehollow vertical column and welded to one of the column walls.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a cabinetstructure for band saws as above characterized, in which each of thecompartment assemblies is provided with a hinged front door, the doorfor the upper compartment assembly having a vertical guard extensionsubstantially enclosing the part of the saw blade adjacent to thevertical column in the closed position of said door to protect theoperator against possible injury.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a novel threepoint mounting of the saw band wheels in the upper and lowercompartments of the housing and also for the work table so that suchparts can be easily and quickly adjusted to accurately align the Wheelsand insure free movement of the saw blade through the work table,notwithstanding possible relative misplacement of parts of the cabinetstructure due to distorting stresses or other injuries in the shipmentof the machine or in the installation of new parts. Thus the useful lifeof the machine will be extended and maintenance expense reduced to aminimum.

For the same reason, it is an additional object of theinvention toprovide a novel three ,point mounting of an upper vertically adjustableblade guiding and guard assembly in the upper wheel compartment of thecabinet.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a noveladjustable mounting of the upper wheel shaft with separate means forvertically adjusting the same to tension the band saw and for angularlyadjusting the wheel shaft toinsure proper and accurate tracking of thesaw blade upon the peripheries of the upper and lower wheels.

In a preferred embodiment of tne invention, a novel construction andmounting of a-dust spout upon the lower compartment assembly of thecabinet is provided which can be readily connected with a source ofsuction to continuously remove saw dust in the operation of the machinefrom the vicinity of the work table and theoperator.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention comprises theimproved band saw, and the construction and'relative'arrangement of theseveral parts, as will hereinafter be more fully described, illustratedin the accompanying drawings and subsequently incorporated in thesubjoined claims.

In the drawings wherein we have disclosed one simple and practicalembodiment of the present invention, and in which similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1' is' a perspective view illustrating a band'saw machineembodying the present invention, and showing one desirable design of thecabinet structure.

Figure 2 is a front elevation, the table .being shown in section and thecabinet walls broken away to illustrate the drive means for the sawblade.

Figure 3 is a'similar view showing the upper wheel mounting for the sawblade.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section through the work table and thelower cabinet compartment assembly taken substantially on the line 44 ofFigure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken'on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 (Sheet 3) is a similar sectional view taken on line 66 ofFigure 3.

Figure 6A (Sheet '7) is a fragmentary vertical section on an enlargedscale of certain parts of the upper blade guide mounting.

Figure 6B is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 6B6Bof Figure 6A.

Figure 7 (Sheet 3) is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 1'!of Figure '3.

Figure 8 (Sheet 5) is a rear elevation showing the adjusting means forthe upper wheel shaft bearing.

Figure 9 is a disassembled perspective view of 4 nally threaded bushing56 is inserted through registered openings in wall 34 and plate 38 atthe lower right hand end thereof and the inner flanged end of thisbushing is securely welded to the plate 38. Above this bushingregistering openings 58 are also provided in the plate 38 and wallFigure. 18 is a detail horizontal sectional view 1 taken on the linel8-l3 of Figure 11, and

Figure 19 (sheet 3) is a detail horizontal sectional View taken on theline l e-i-ifi of Figure 3.

Referring for the present to Figures 1 and 1-1 to 19 of the drawings,the improved welded ma chine frame or cabinet structure includes avertical column 20 at the left hand side of the operators position.Preferably, this column comprises two rolled sheet metal sections 22 ofchannel shaped form in. cross" section. having relatively wide outerside flanges 24 and narrow inner side flanges 26. The vertical edges ofthe flanges 2d are held inclose abutting contact witheaoh other by meansof the vertically extendingpl'atelaa. bridging. said adjoining edges ofthe flanges. 24 and securely welded to the inner sides thereof. Theflanges 26 are similarly connected and rigidly held in spaced apartrelation by the relatively wide upper and lower splice plates 39 and32respectively securely welded along their vertical" edges tothe innerfaces of. said flanges. An upper wheel compartment assembly'extendslaterally from the upper end of' the column 29 and comprises a rearsheet metal body "wall 34 having an angularly disposed forwardly projecting flange 36 wall. r v

The wall 34- is reinforced and rigidly connected to the column 29 b,;means of the. sheet metal plate 38 securely weldedat a-plurality'of'points 48 to the inner face of the wall34. This'plate covers themajor-portion of the surface of wall 34 and is die pressed to provide acontinuous "reine forcing rib 42 of a suitable width adjacent to andparallel with the outer edge of. said plate;-: It will be notedv thatthe reinforcing plate'33 is of greater length than the wall 34 andprojects beyond one end thereof. The flange onzthis end of the wall 34is cut away or recessed at vertically spaced points; as at it toaccommodate the section of thewplatctfi provided with therib 42. Betweenthese recesses 44, the flange 35 projects forwardly through a verticallyextending slot 46. in the plate 38, which also receives the flange 26 onthe rear section 22 of the ColumnZ-B between the vertically spacedrecesses 48in said flange mating with. the recessed 44 in the flange 36.The flanges 36 and 2B are securely welded together while the adjacentend-portion of the plate. 33 extends into the coluninv 20 and incontact. with the surface of the rear wall of said column to whichsaidend of the reinforcing plate is securely'welded at a plurality ofspaced points, 'as indicated at 50.

The compartment wall 34 and reinforcing plate 38 are provided withvertically elongated rectangular openings as indicated at 52 toaccommodate parts of the upper wheel mounting'as'will be readilyunderstood from the following descrip tion; I

Adjacent to one side of these openings registering circular openings areformed. in the wall 34 and plate 38 to receive an internally threadedcylindrical bushing 54 securely welded at its outer flanged end tothebody wall 34. A similar interextending along each edge'ofisaid 34 andabove the latter openings thehorizontally spaced small diameter openings69 are provided; These several openings and the bushing 56 receive partsof the mounting and adjusting means for the upper saw blade guide unitas will be presently described. Preferably, at this end of the plate 38the rib 42. is formed with a wide section extending to the end edge. ofthe plate and between the wall of said riband the rear body plate 34, ahorizontally inclined reinforcing member '54 extends between the spacedopenings 65) and is securely welded to said wall and the plate 38.

' lower edge of the wall section 90.

A wheelguard member. also stamped from sheet metal, is of generalZ-shaped form in cross section and has an upper horizontal. Portion. 66Welded to the lower; flange 35 on the; wall-34 and extending forwardlytherefrom,.a vertical depend-' ing portion 68 and a lower horizontal.portion 10.-

p This guard member terminates in spacedrelation from the right' handvertical edge of the compartment assembly and at this end of; the guardmember the lower flange portion ifi thereof is upwardly curved in moreor less concentric relation with the wheel mounted withinthe-compartment.

To the flange 35 at the top and right hand end of the wall 34,externally thereof one edge of. a

'metal door guardstrip 12 is securely weldedand projects forwardly"thereof, as seen in Figure f Suitable stop lugs 14 are welded totheinner face of the vertical end portion, of'thestrip with which. amarginal flange 78 on the compartment door i6 is adapted to abut. whenthe door is closed. This door is hingedly mounted upon the vertical;column 2e by-suitably spaced hinges 80. A vertical guard member 82 ofsubstantially U-shaped form incross section is welded to the inner faceof the door at its hinged edge and extends downwardly therefrom,providing a channel through which the ;saw.blade moves upwardly to theupper drive wheel. This guard member at its lower end is also hinged tothe column 20, as indicatedat 84.

The lower wheel and motorcompartment as-' sembly extends rearwardlyaswell as laterally from the vertical column 20 This assembly in,-.-cludes the vertically spaced horizontal members 86 and 83 01 invertedU-shaped form in crossv section. These members at one of their endsextend through suitable recesses provided in the flange 2B of therearcolumn section 22 and one side flange of each of said members issecurely welded to the. rear wall of said column section. To the otherside flanges of the members 86 and 88 a vertically disposed wall 90 issuitably welded and extends below the member 88. As shownin Figure18,.the vertical side edge of the wall 90 and the edge of the flange 26on the front column section 2.2 are welded to plate 32 as indicated at92; thus effectively closing the compartment space. behind the. wall 98.1

A second vertical wall section. 94 is disposed substantially flush withthe front side of column 25 and at its upper end has a horizontal flangeor shelf portion 95 extending inwardlyto the At each of its verticalside edges wall. section 94 is suitably flanged and securely. welded tothe adjacent flange 25 of the column 26 and to the inwardly turned frontvertical edge portion 96 of the right. hand side wall S's of thecompartment. assembly.-

This wall and the opposite side wall 98 may be integrally formed with arear'end wall I to the upper edges of which the top wall I02 is suitablywelded. The front vertical edge of wall'98ris also welded to the rearsection of column 20. The compartment walls 94, 9-1, 98, and I00 attheir lower ends are welded to corner foundation plates I04 of suitableform, which if desired may be anchored to the floor. The vertical wallsection 90 is provided with a large diameter open-' ing I06 toaccommodate parts of the mountin for the lower wheel which rotates in avertical plane in alignment with the horizontal flange or shelf portion95 of the lower wall section 94. A wheel guard member I08 is weldedalong its longitudinal rear edge to a flange on the upper edge of avertical rear wall 0', the lower edge of which is suitably welded to the'U member 86. This guard member extends forwardly over'th'e upper edgeofthe wall section-90 and at the right hand end thereof said guard memberis'down-' wardly curved in more or less concentric relation with thelower wheel. I A second door II2 hinged to the column 20, as

at II 4, normally closes the space in which the wheel rotates, betweenthe guard member I08 and the upper end of the wall section 94. This wallsection 94 is also provided with an opening II6 which accommodates theforward end of the shaft of the motor mounted behind the wall section94, as will later be explained. T v I The rear wall I00 of the lowercompartment assembly is provided with a vertically extending openingalso normally closed by a door II6 hingedly mounted along one verticaledge on said wall as at I20. (See Figure 16.) At each side of this dooropening and substantially midway be-' tween its upper and lower ends, apair of vertically spaced bracket'members I22 are welded orotherwise-'secured'tojthe inner side of the rear compartment wall I00.extending portions of these bracket members the opposite ends of achannel bar I24 are positioned with the open sideof the channel facinginwardly. The upper and lower flanges of this bar'are securely'welded tothe bracket members as clearly seen in Figure 12.

To the upper surface of the channel bar 86 at its right hand end andbeyond the wheel guard member I08 a horizontally disposed mounting plateI26 is securely welded. As seen in Figure 14, this plate is providedwith a central forwardly projecting end portion I28 of reduced width having a large diameter threaded opening I30 therein. At its rear end thisplate is provided with widely spaced small diameter threaded openingsI32. Upon this'plate, the supporting bracket member for the work tableis mounted for adjustment relative to the machine frame, as willpresently be described. a

The upper band saw wheel is adjustably mounted in the upper compartmentassembly of the cabinet structure as best shown in Figures 3, and 7- ofthe drawings. A vertically disposed rectangular frame member I34 isarranged with the frame opening registering with the opening 52 in therear compartment wall and is supported at one side of said opening bymeans of screws I36 loosely disposed through openings I38 (see Figure11) in the wall 34 and reinforcement plate 38 and threaded in the upperand lower ends of said frame member. At these points, the frame memberis provided with convex faces I40 having rocking contact upon thereinforcement plate 38.

At the opposite side of said frame and substan- Between the inwardlytially midway between its upper and lower ends,

a third point of support is provided by the screw I42 rotatably disposedthrough an adjustable.

j'sleeve I44 threaded in the bushing 54, said screw at its inner endbeing threaded in the frame {member I34.

It. will therefore be obvious that by loosening the screw I42 andadjusting the sleeve I44 in bushing 54, after loosening the screws I36,

the frame I34 can be angularly adjusted relative beveled edges toguidingly coact with correspond-' {to the plane of the rear compartmentwall 34.

At opposite sides of theframe'opening, vertically extending guide railsI46 are secured to frame I34 by screws I48. These rails have inner inglybeveled edges of a vertically movable shaft bearing carriage I50. Inthis carriage, th p ul- -ley bearing sleeve I52 is rockably mountedbetween the pivot pins I54, threadedin bosses I56 1 formed on thecarriage I on opposite sides thereof.

sides of the bearing sleeve I52 and are locked in their adjustedposition by the nuts I60. The

,; sleeve I52 extends rearwardly of the compartment wall 34 through theopening 52 and within said sleeve grease packed bearings of suitableupper end of this screw I68 carries a seating cap I12 for the lower endof a tensioning spring I" contained within a housing part I16 formed onthe carriage I50. A suitable pointer I18 is interposed between the capI12 and the lower end of the spring I14 and coacts with a graduatedscale I suitably secured to the rear side of the carriage I50, as seenin Figure 8 of the drawing.

Rearwardly of the pivot pins I54, the side wall of the bearing sleeveI52 is recessed or cut away as indicated at I 82 in Figure 5 of thedrawings to accommodate the adjusting screw I68.

Bearing sleeve I53 at the opposite side thereof and rearwardly of thecompartment wall '34 is provided with a laterally projecting lug I84(Figure 8) having a vertical opening therethrough and a rectangularrecess I86 in its upper face to receive the rectangular head of a boltI88 which extends downwardly through said lug and through a similarapertured lug I90 formed upon the rear side of the carriage I50. Betweenthese spaced lugs a coiled spring I 92 surrounds the bolt I88, and thelower end of said bolt is threaded to receive the hand knob I94 havingbearing contact with the lug I90. It will thus be apparent that by theadjustment of this hand knob, the bearing sleeve I52 and the pulleyshaft mounted therein may be vertically rocked between the pivot pinsI54 to position the pulley in a predetermined plane of rotation relativeto the compartment wall 34.

The upper saw blade guide unit assembly indicated at I96 is carried by abracket I98 (Figure 3) fixed to the lower end of a rod 200 of polygonalform in section. The lower end of a saw blade guard member 202 (Figures6, 6A and 6B) in parallel relation to the rod 200 is also fixed to thebracket I96. The rod 200 is vertically adjustable in a supportingbracket 264 having a three point mounting within the upper pulleycompartment. Thus at its upper end, the bracket 204 is held in rockingcontact with reinforcement plate 38 by' These pivot "pins have conicalinner ends engaged in seats I58 formed on opposite anoaaae;

. V 7 means .of thescrews 206 extending through openings fifl in saidplate and the wall 34 and threaded into the supporting bracket 204. Atits lower end the bracket 204 is engaged by the adjustable sleeve I268threaded in the bushing-56. A bolt 2I8 extending through the sleeve 208and threaded. in the bracket 204'secures the latter in adjustedposition. :It will thus be clear that by loosening the-bo1ts;266and 2mand turning the sleeve 288 'inibushin'g' 56;- the position of thesupporting bracket 284 relative to the compartment wal-l34 may beproperly adjusted to dispose the blade guiding unit'i96 and theguard'mem'ber 282 in parallelrelation to the blade and obviate bindingfrictional resistance to the free movement of thesawsblade,in'theVevent-of possible distortion of wall 35.; L1

f The rod 268' is held in 'itsvertically adjusted positionnelative tobracket 204 by means of the member 212 threaded in a boss ZHlon thesupporting, bracket 284 .and extending outwardly throughropenings 58inwall 34 and theadjacent,

portion of plate 38. A suitable handle H5 is connected to the outer endof member 2 l2, whereby it may be conveniently rotated into or out oftight binding contact with one side face of the rod288. The inner end ofmember H2 is bored to receive a pin 2|? yieldingly urged by spring 218against the rod 288 to yieldingly restrain said rod against gravitydownward movement relative tomember 28-4 when, the holding pressure ofmember 2l2 against said rod is released. The

upper saw blade guide unit assembly [98 isnot claimed herein since it issubstantially the same as that disclosed in the Tautz Patent 2,032,233of February 25, 1936.

Fromreference to Figures 6A and 613 it will be noted that the guideopening 20| in bracket 224 is of different cross sectionaldimensions-from the rod 200 and has relatively wide opposedreverselyinclined surfaces 285 remote from the member 2l2. Thus,- in theadjustment of said member the rod 288 is forced laterally in the bracketto frictionally, engage opposite side faces thereof with the surfaces205 of the bracket openmeme remaining faces on the rod being spaced fromopposedsurfaces of said opening. In this 'manner with the use of only asingle adjusting member 2|2 the rod 288 may be accurately positioned inparallelism with the saw blade.

- As shown in Figures 2 and4 of thedrawings,

the shaft 220 of the lower wheel 222 isjournalled in suitable greasepacked bearings mountedin the upper end of the shaft support 224 whichis rigidly bolted at its lower' end upon a mounting plate 226 havingathree point adjustable support upon the channel bars 88 and I24 in thelower compartment assembly. Thus, this plate at its front end isrockably supported at spaced points as shown at 228 in Figure 4, uponthe upper surface of .the channel member 88 and is connected therewithby the vertical bolts 236 having clamping nuts 232 threaded upon theirlower ends. At its rear end, the mounting plate 228 is supported forvertical adjustment relative to channel member I274 by means of theexternally, threaded sleeve 234 vertically adjustable in a threadedopeningin the mounting plate having bearing engagement at its lower endon the upper flange of channel member I25. A bolt 236. extending throughsaid-sleeve and a nut 238 threaded on and the. nuts 2,32 and turning thesleeve 234, the

, of one ofthe'arms 248.

mounting plate 226'may be vertically rookedto dispose'the wheel-222 in.apredetermined plane of rotation andinexact verticalalignment with theplane oftrotation-of the upper wheel "I64. Preferably, thewheels'areprovided with peripheral tires of. sheet rubber or equivalentmaterial as shown at=249 withwhich the endless flexible steel saw blade242' has non-slippingv contact. -Thej.-lower wheel-222 is driven by anelectric motor 2440f suitable hors'eepower rigidly mounted upon asupporting plate 246 in the lower compartment of the cabinet structure.This plate at one of its ends and its opposite side edges is providedwith upwardly extending arms 248 which are rockably mounted upon'a shaft258 journalled at, its ends-in suitable bearings on the front and rear'walls ofxthe cabinet compartment. Axial shifting movementof the motorsupporting plate relativeeto'shaft250-is prevented by the'collars 252-rigidly fixed to-said shaft at opposite sides The mounting or supportingplate 246 for the motor extends upwardly at a slight inclination fromthe shaft258 toward the column 26 and at the, latter-end thereof isadjustably supported by meansofa rod-254 extending upwardly from itslower end through a slot in the plate 246 and through an aperture in abracket 256 welded or otherwise rigidlysecured to the wall 98. A-coiledspring 258 surrounds said rod between the bracket 256 and plate 246. Awing nut 260 is adjustably threaded uponthe upper end of said rod and byadjusting thisnut, thetensionof spring 258 may be properly regulated.

To the rear end of the lower wheel shaft 220, a drive pulley 2'62 issuitably fixed, and a similar relatively small diameterpulley 264 isalso fixed to the rear end of the'shaft of motor 244. These pulleys areconnected by one or more drivebelts 266. When the belt is sprung overthe respective pulleys the spring 258 will be compressed. The weight ofthe motor is sufficient to maintain a proper tension of the drive beltwhile the spring 258 takes up starting torque. .When the machine is notbeing used, the tension of the drive belt may be relaxed. by. adjustmentof the wing nut? bolts. 212 and, in the .upper end of this bracketmember, a brake applying lever 214 is pivotally mounted intermediate ofits ends as at 216. One end'of this lever is upwardly curved andprovided with suitable brake lining material 218 for frictionalengagement with the periphery of hub 288 of wheel 222.

The other end of lever 214 is angularly oilsetginwardly and positionedabove the channel member 88 in substantial alignment with anopening'provided in the horizontal web of said channel member throughwhich the rod 28| extends upwardly and through an opening in said end of6 the lever with which the rod 'is pivotally connected. A coil spring282is interposed between the end of the lever 214 and the channel memberBil-and held in compression by means of the ad-' justable nuts 284threaded upon the upper end of therod 28L This rod extends downwardlyinto the motor compartment and at its lower end has an angular terminalportion pivotally connected with an arm 286 which is rigidly fixed tothe shaft 259. To the forward end of said shaft, externally of thecabinet structure, a suitable foot pedal 288 is rigidly attached. Thusit will be understood that when the control switch is operated to stopthe motor drive for the band saw, by downward pressure on foot pedal 288lever 214 is actuated against the resistance of spring 282 tofrictionally engage the brake material 218 with the wheel hub andquickly bring movement of the saw blade to a complete stop.

The supporting bracket 299 for the work table has a three point mountingon the plate I26. Thus, this bracket'is held in rockable bearingcontact, as indicated at 292, with the upper surface of plate I26 byscrews 294 extending upwardly through the openings I32 in plate I 26 andthreaded into the bracket 299. An adjustable sleeve 296 is threaded inthe other opening I39 of plate I26 and at its upper end has bearingcontact with bracket 299. The bolt or screw 298 extending through thissleeve is threaded at its upper end into the bracket and holds saidbracket and sleeve in adjusted position relative to the plate I26. Thus,by loosening the screws 294 and 298 and turning the sleeve 296, thisbracket may be vertically adjusted to dispose the upper surface of thetable supported thereby in a transverse horizontal plane exactly atright angles to the line of movement of the saw blade through the table.

To the under side of the work table 399 trunnion members 392 ar rigidlysecured at widely spaced points and are rockably mounted upon arcuatelyconcave seats 394 formed on opposite ends of the bracket 299. Means isassociated with each of said trunnion members for rigidly securing thetable in adjusted position relative to the bracket. Thus, the table maybe readily adjusted with its upper work supporting surface tilted in aninclined plane either in the forward or rearward direction.

As shown in Figure 9 the table 396 is provided I with a vertical opening396 and a slotted cap plate 398 closing the upper end thereof throughwhich the saw blade passes. A saw blade entrance slot 3I9 to the opening396 opens at its outer end through the right hand edge of the table, inwhich a tapered plug 3I2 is adapted to be inserted to prevent springingof the separated partsof the table. The upper surface of the table isalso provided with a rectangular groove 3 I4 extending at right anglesto the slot 3I9 and in which a miter gauge or fence guide rail for thework is adapted to be inserted. However, this table construction and thetrunnion mounting means for the table upon bracket 299 are notspecifically claimed herein, as it is in all essential features fullydisclosed and claimed in the Tautz Patent 2,040,718 of May 12, 1936.

w A lower saw blade guide assembly (Figure'a) is mounted beneath thework table 399 upon the bracket 299. It will therefore be understoodthat the three point adjustable mounting of bracket 299 upon the plateI26 provides for the unitary adjustment of said bracket, the table 399and the blade guide assembly about a horizontal axis substantially atright anglesto the axis of the table trunnions 392 which liessubstantially'in the plane of the upper surface of the workltable.Further detail description of the blade guide assembly is not requiredfor the purposes of the present explanation as this assembly is fullydis- 'outer end 3220f the dust spout.

closed and claimed in the Tauzt Patents 2,198,086,

February 15, 1938, and 2,193,946, March 19, 1940-. As will be noted fromreference to Figures 2 and 11 of the drawings, the inwardly turned edgeportion 96 of the sidewall of the lower compartment assembly terminatesat its upper end some distance below the mounting plate I26. In thisspace and extending above the plate I26 dust spout 3I8 is rigidlysecured to the cabinet wall 99 and the outer sidefiange of the channelmember 86 by means of bolt 329. To the downwardly inclined outer end 322of this dust spout a length of flexible tubing from a suitable source ofsuction is adapted to be connected. The inclined bottom wall of thespout 3I8 is provided at its upper end with an'opening 324 above which aplate 326 is secured to this spout wall by the screws 328 and isprovided with aguide slot 339 for thesaw blade. The plate 326 picks upthe majority of the saw dust clinging to or falling from the blade anddirects it outwardlythrough the-spout 3I8. The windage caused by thelower band saw wheel during rotation is directed by plate I26 across theblade so that the saw dust will actually be carried in suspensionthrough the Without this arrangement the saw dust would be carried bythe blade'and windage of the wheel into the lower compartment where itwould collect in large quantities. Some of this dust would cling to theblade and be carried thereby around the upper wheel and downwardly ontothe table where it would obscure any work guide line and would alsocollect on the wheel tire so that the blade would tend to slip.

In preparing the machine for operation the saw blade is first enteredthrough the table slot 3I9 into the opening 396 thereof withapproximately equal upper and lower loops which are loosely engaged overthe peripheries of the upper and lower wheels I64 and 222 respectivelyand with the teeth of the right hand portion of the blade pointingdownwardly toward the operators position at the front of the machine.Screw I63 is then rotated to raise the upper pulley I64 and place thesaw blade under a slight tension. The capplate'. 398 is then appliedover opening 396 with .the open end of the slot in said plate facingrearwardly. Pin 3I2 is then tapped into the tapered opening at the righthand end of slot 3 I 9,

care being taken to avoid excessive pressure. This pin will maintain theupper surface of the table at opposite sides of the slot 3I9 in acommon' plane. a

The motor 244 is now inserted through the rear door opening of thecabinet and mounted upon the plate246 as above described. Afteradjusting the motor pulley 264 into accurate vertical alignment with thepulley 262 on the end of the lower 'saw blade pulley shaft 229, the beltor belts 266 are then sprung over the pulleys 264 and 262 and held inproper tension by the weight of the motor For accurate and efficientcutting, proper blade tension is essential. Scale I89 is graduated toindicate proper tension for blades of different widths. Having centeredthe blade approximately onthe upper and lower band saw wheels, thetensionadjusting screw I68 is then operated to move the upper wheelupwardly until the pointer I18 registers with the graduation on scaleI89 corresponding to the particular blade width. This screw first raisesthe sliding carriage I59 to take up slackin theblade and whenthe latterhas snug frictional contact on the band athe sawwheels, additionalrotation of the screw I68 compresses the coil spring I14 to develop therequired tension. Thi spring also absorbs shock loads to which the blademay be subjected while cutting. In the event the blade is somewhatthicker than standard, the tension should be slightly higher than thatindicated by the scale mark; When the machine is not in use, screw 16 8should be operated to release the tension, and thereby release thetensional strain in the blade. p p r r v It is also necessary foraccurate cutting and maximum blade life that the blade shall properlytrack upon the band saw wheels so that itwill run steadily in the samevertical line. If the blade weaves across the crowns of the pulleywheelsthe cutting will not be uniform and liability of blade breakage will beincreased.

'H9,Vililg"filSt brought theblade to the correct 7 tension as'abov'eexplained, if it is found that the blade tends to creep forwardly, theknob I94 is turned slightly to tilt the upper wheel I64 toward therear,'thus centering the blade. I If the blade tends tocreep rearwardlyknob I94 is rotated in the opposite direction, thus tilting the wheelforwardly. After checking by spinning the wheel by hand, so that it iscertain that the blade will not run off of the peripheries of thewheelsthe motor is then started and such final minor adjustments made asmay be necessary at operating speed. f l Each .of the blade guideassemblies I 96' and ,3I6 includes a roller having supporting contactWith the back edge of the blade. This roller and the other guidingelements should be adjusted as explained in the Tautz patent abovereferred to and backedoff out of contact with the blade in making thetracking adjustment. This adjustment should never be attempted while themachine is in operation since at such high speed theblade may run off ofthe wheels, resulting in possiblebreakage thereofand injury to theoperator; Knob I64, in each adjustment thereof, should be turned only asmall fraction, as a very slight tilt of the upper wheel is required todraw the blade across the periphery thereof. As each blade has its own'tendencies, especially. after welding or brazing, this centeringadjustment must be repeated whenever a new orrepaired blade isinstalled, regardless of previous adjustments. p I Y 7 When the machineis assembled at the fa tory, the upper and lower band saw wheels areaccurately adjusted in vertical alignment with each other to rotate inthe same plane. Therefore, a normal saw blade should be readily centeredon thetwh'eels, proceeding in the manner just "described. However, it ispossible that this original adjustment of the band saw wheels maybedisturbed during shipment, if the cabinet frame "or the machine is abnrmauy stressed, r when new parts'are installed. By reason of the threepoint mounting of the upper wheel supporting frame I34 and the lowerwheel mounting plate 226, compensation may be readily made for suchframe distortion; Thus, as previously described, by releasingthe screwI42 and turning the sleeve 'I4f4,-the mounting frame I34 may be readilyadjiisted to shift the upper wheel shaft through a small horizontalangle; Similarly by loosening screw 238 and rotatingthe sleeve 234, thelower wheel 'shaftinay be shifted through a small vertical angle. Afterthus adjusting both wheels so that theyaccurately rotate in a commonvertical plane, the screws I42 and 2-36 are then tightened to securelyhold the wheels against relative displacement from their adjustedpositions. p Y

The work table 366' may be readily adjusted on the seats 384 to disposeits top surface in a forwardly or rearwardly 'inclined'pl'ane as fullydescribed in the above-mentioned 'Tautz'patent and securely locked tothe supporting bracket 290 in such adjusted position. The tableadjustment should be carefully checked to, correct any disturbances thatmay have occurred during shipment. By the'three point mounting for thesupporting bracket 296, said bracket and the table may be verticallyadjusted by means of the sleeve 296 through a small angle parallel tothe trunnions. This adjustment should be checked by placing a mechanicssquare against the back edge of the blade to be sure that the plane ofthe table surface is at exactly 90 with respect to the blade.

The three point mounting of the guide bracket 204 also provides acompensating adjustment for the upper blade guide assembly I96. Thus byloosening the screw 2m and adjusting sleeve 2 68 as explained, thebracket 204 may be angularly adjusted relative to the Wall 34 of theupper cabinet compartment to dispose the rod Zilll carrying the guideassembly I96 exactly in parallel relation to the rear edge of th sawblade. Therefore, if when the guide assembly I96 is lowered toward thetable, the blade guides and supporting element do not bear. a correctrelationship to the blade, the necessary. correction may be easily andquickly made by such adjustment of the guidebracket 264.

Before operating the machine, all of the above described adjustmentsshould be properly made and the band saw wheels turned by hand as afinal check. The cabinet-doors, which are-provided with suitablelatchdevices, are closed before starting the motor. The. upperbladefguidc assembly I96 should be positioned as closely as possible tothe work so that onlya Very small portion of the toothed edge of theblade int'he immediate vicinity of the work is exposed, thus affordingmaximum protection to thefopcrator as well as the best support for theblade. The foot brake should be used promptly after shutting oirthepower to stop movement of the saw blade. This is a safety precaution toprevent possible injury to the operator or others who may not observethat the blade is running idle after the work has been completed. Such abrake is also useful if the work should become jammed, or the sawblade's'hould break. 7

It will be apparent that, if desired, the lower wheel 222 may be securedto the end of the shaft of motor 244 and directly driven thereby-andsaidmotor secured upon the adjustable mounting plate 226.. p 3 1 From theforegoing description and. the accom panying drawings, the constructionand several advantages of our new band saw will be clearly understood,It will be seen that by means of the above described adjustments for theupper and lower pulley wheels, said wheels may be maintained in accuratevertical alignment and proper tracking of the saw blade upon the .pe-

ripheries of said wheels assured. Such adjustment together with thethree point. adjustment of the table supporting bracket and of the upperblade guide assembly enables compensating, ad-

justments for possible distortions of the cabinet frame structure tobeea'sily and quickly made.

'Alsdby reason thereof, this frame structure may be fabricated fromsheet metal of lighter gauge "than would'otherwisebe necessary, thereby.minimizing the-weight of the machine and-.Icorrespondingly'reducingconstruction and transportation costs. It will also i. be appreciatedthatthe reinforcing plate 38 constructedand 'securedlto the verticalcolumn in the'mannerabovededescribed provides avery rigid support-fortheupper cabinet compartment structure which -will eifectively resistpressure forces tendingtd vertically" displace said structure 'andthe-"wheel -mounted-therein relative to the column-201 The "thereof,which makes possible large scale production at comparatively low cost.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by theapended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changeswhich come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims aretherefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

1. In a band saw; a cabinet structure comprising a vertical column andupper and lower wheel compartment assemblies extending laterally fromone side of said column; upper and lower saw blade wheels adapted tocarry a saw blade, each of said wheels being rotatably journalled inrespective upper and lower bearing means in the upper and lower wheelcompartment assemblies; a first frame mounted in said upper assembly forrocking movement about a first axis; a plate carried by said frame andproviding a pivot axis for pivotally supporting said upper bearing meanson said first frame for movement about a second axis normal to saidfirst axis; a second plate mounted in the lower wheel compartmentassembly for rocking movement about an axis parallel to said secondaxis; separate means for moving said second mentioned plate and saidframe about their respective axes; and additional means for moving saidupper bearing means about the pivot axis provided by said firstmentioned plate to dispose the respective axes of rotation of saidwheels and their respective planes of rotation in preselected angularrelationship to each other thereby compensating for structural andassembly inaccuracies of said assemblies and assuring tracking of saidblade.

2. In a band saw; a cabinet structure comprising a vertical column andupper and lower wheel compartment assemblies extending laterally fromone side of said column; upper and lower saw blade wheels carrying a sawblade, each of said wheels being rotatably journalled in respectiveupper and lower bearing means in the upper and lower wheel compartmentassemblies; a first frame; means for supporting said frame on a verticalwall of said upper wheel compartment assembly for rocking movement abouta first axis; pivot means supported by said frame for pivotallysupporting said upper bearing means on said frame forrock'ing movementabout a secondaxis normal to' said first axis cooperating means onsaidframe and said vertical wall for rocking said frame about said firstaxis means carried :by said frame for rocking. said bearing means aboutsaid second axis; a plate rigidly supporting said lower bearing means,means'supportin'g said plate for rocking movement in said lower Wheelcompartment assembly about an axis parallel to said second axis;andcooperating means on said plate and said lower wheel compartmentassembly for rocking said plate about its axis, all of said rockingmeans cooperating to dispose the axes of rotationof said wheels andtheir, respective planes of rotation, in preselected angularrelationship to each other thereby compensating for structural andassembly inaccuracies of said assemblies and assuring tracking of saidblade.

" 3. In a band saw having a fabricated, sectional support framecomprising a vertical column, upper andlower wheel support sectionsextending laterally from one side of said column, respective upper andlower saw blades shaft and wheel assemblies supported from saidrespective wheel support sections; wheel mounting and aligning mechanismcomprising respective journals mounting said respective shaft and wheelassemblies for rotation around an axis fixed with respect to theirrespective journals; respective support plates tiltably mounted on saidwheel support sections and adapted to support said respective journalsfor selective bodily tilting with respect to said respective supportsections to adjust the respective axes of rotation of said shaft andwheel assemblies with respect to each other; and additional supportmeans comprising a support frame rigidly mounted on one of said supportplates and having spaced, axially aligned pivot pins pivotally engagingthe journal of said one support plate at right angles to its axis andadapting said journal and its associated shaft and wheel assembly forselective pivotal movement with respect to said one support plate; and

means carried by said one support plate and connected to said last namedjournal for pivoting said journal around said pivot pins to a selectedposition, said support plates and said additional support meanscooperating to provide for relative adjustment of the respective axes ofrotation of said shaft and wheel assemblies and the respective planes ofrotation of said wheels in all directions thereby compensating forstructural and assembly inaccuracies in said fabricated, sectionalsupport frame and assuring tracking of said blade.

4. In a band saw, a cabinet structure comprising a vertical column andupper and lower wheel compartment assemblies extending laterally fromone side of said column; upper and lower saw blade wheels adapted tocarry a saw blade; journal means for rotatably mounting a wheel in eachof said compartment assemblies; plate means for supporting each of saidwheel journal means for selective bodily tilting in its respectivecompartment assembly in respective planes to adjust the inclination ofthe axes of rotation of said wheels with respect to each other; andadditional support means for one of said plate means comprising a frametiltably supported on a wall of its respective compartment assembly andadapted to selectively bodily tilt said one plate means and itsassociated wheel mounting journal means in a plane at right angles toits said respective plane to adjust the axis of rotation of said onewheel in said right angular plane, said plate 15 support means and saidadditional support means cooperating toprovideifor relative adjustmentof the respective axes of rotation of said wheels and their respectiveplanes of rotation in preslected .angular'relationship to each otherthereby coinpensating ,for structural and assembly inaccura cies of saidassemblies and assuring tracking of said blade.

' CHRISTY A. WIKEN.

ERIC A. REIBIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number I Name Date 236,919 Friedli Oct. 16, 1883656,800 Arnold Aug. 28, 1900 1,152,696 Berry Sept. 7, 1915 Vaughan Oct.11, 1921 Number; V

Nils-ta 139,842

16 Name Date Walker Aug. 29, 1922 Reichmann June 24,1924 Tannewitz;.July 6, 1926 DeKonimget al. Jan. 19, 1932 Avil1a, 1 Mar. 8, 1932 DeGroot" Sept. 19,1933 Tautz Feb. 25,1936 Tautz May 12, 1936 Y Grob' Aug.17, 1937 Tautz -1 Feb. 15, 1938 Tautz Mar. 19, 1940 Zimmerman Mar. 25,1941 HedgD'eth Mar.' 3, 1942 Boice et al. May 2, 1944 Boice et al. Mar.20, 1945 Scircle Dec. 14, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Apr.2, 1903

